The risk of many forms of heart disease, heart attacks, and stroke increases with age. And, like it or not, we are growing older. Heart disease is also associated with factors that are within our control: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and cigarette smoking.

Have a doctor check your blood pressure each year. Medicare covers the full cost of an annual blood pressure screening during your Welcome to Medicare visit and each year after that during your Annual Wellness visit. Your medical screening should include:

Discussion about aspirin use: Men and women between the ages of 55 and 79 should generally take an aspirin a day. And, daily aspirin is often recommended for men beginning at 45, ten years before women.

Blood pressure screening: Recommended for all adults.

Behavioral counseling: A healthy diet is highly recommended.

To identify conditions that could lead to heart attack or stroke and lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, Medicare also covers three important cardiovascular screening blood testsevery five years, if ordered by a doctor:

cholesterol

lipid

triglyceride levels

You can benefit from coverage with no out-of-pocket costs. If you have:

Traditional Medicare: See a doctor who takes assignment, who accepts Medicare’s rate as payment in full.